Happy Easter! This is a day of celebrating Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, but I want you to know that the power that it took to get Jesus out of that grave was not a one time thing. In the same way that God raised Jesus from the dead, he will give life to the mortal things, the dead things, in your life. This is good news because our hope is that Easter would be more than just a celebration. The resurrection of Jesus gives you the power to close the gap between the life you are living, and the life you could live. So, what is your next step?
We know that Jesus died on the cross, was crucified and put in the tomb, and then three days later rose again. But why three days? It was because, in the death and burial on Friday, the waiting and uncertainty on Saturday and the resurrection on Sunday, he was showing us the process. Jesus modeled how we are to live our lives in every season and circumstance.
Friday - The Day of Pain: Jesus experienced this day of pain, and many others, so that he could help you through your pain. Are you in pain today? Let me show you the kind of pain that Jesus endured.
The first one is physical pain. Maybe your body is in pain. The problem with hurting bodies is that it gets into your spirit, and can mess with you so that you lose hope. Jesus gets it because he experienced it himself.
He experienced emotional pain. He was despised and rejected, betrayed by those close to him. I know there are some people reading that are feeling rejected. You are dealing with sickness of the soul, possibly depression. Jesus knows this pain.
Jesus dealt with relational pain. If you are single, he knows what it’s like. He knows what it’s like to be tempted as a single. The Bible said he was tempted on all points and yet never sinned. Maybe you have pain from your marriage relationship. He was single on this earth, but the Bible calls us, as the church, the bride of Christ. He is the groom. Not only does he know what it’s like to be married, but he knows what it’s like for his wife to cheat on him. We have all done that. He was rejected and disbelieved by his own family. His brothers and sisters weren’t all in. He was on his own without their support. Can you imagine how that felt to him?
Why am I telling you all this? There’s a lesson that I want you to see. I want you to see that God knows how to flip the script. He put purpose in the pain. I don’t believe he gives you the pain, but he will take it and use it. There is no pain that his purpose cannot redeem.
Saturday - The Day of Confusion: Did you ever think about the fact that the disciples were not sitting around on the next day, saying, “Well, just one more day and it’s Easter.” The Bible says that they got so depressed and confused on that day, that they went back to their old patterns. It was a season of waiting, terrible uncertainty. In this season, you know you’ve had pain, and you know there is promise, but it’s not happening and you feel stuck. You want answers, feeling that even if God doesn’t fix it, you need to know why you had to go through this. In confusion, we begin to doubt. Some of you have been in church so long that you don’t even think it’s real anymore because you’re stuck in a Saturday of your life.
When we are really stuck, we tend to give up. One disciple gave up so much that he actually committed suicide, and one of the greatest disciples, Peter, decided to quit the ministry and go back to fishing. Being stuck can cause us to feel alone. If you’re experiencing these things, you may be stuck in Saturday.
When you need to get out of confusion, scripture and life tell us to get close to God. When you think he’s far away, get into worship and draw near to him. I’ve learned to become totally satisfied that I will get all my answers when I see him face-to-face. But I trust him in this life. There is no confusion that his presence cannot calm.
Sunday - The Day of Resurrection: The things that you thought were dead can be resurrected. If the first day is pain (war), and the second day is confusion (waiting), the third day is resurrection (winning). I want you to know, you are just one sunrise away from your miracle and your whole life turning around.
You say, “OK Dave, how do I get that one?” The answer to this is found in one word, and that word is, “JESUS”! He is the one person that can take your life and turn it around, taking those dead areas of your life and resurrecting them. Come on church!!!
He doesn’t just offer resurrection. He is Resurrection. “I am [Myself] the Resurrection and the Life. Whoever believes in (adheres to, trusts in, and relies on) Me, although he may die, yet he shall live; And whoever continues to live and believes in (has faith in, cleaves to, and relies on) Me shall never [actually] die at all. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26 AMPC). You do not have to stay in the Friday or the Saturday of life, because there is no death that his power cannot resurrect.
Paul said, ”I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead.” Paul had some Fridays and Saturdays going on in his life too. “I want to suffer with him [FRIDAY], sharing in his death [SATURDAY], so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead! [SUNDAY]” (Philippians 3:10-11 NLT).
But you can’t have any of it without knowing Christ. This is not head knowledge but actually intimate knowing. Jesus is your answer, today and everyday. He desires a real, daily, active relationship with you.
Father, I pray right now for people who are contemplating a step. They’re tired of the gap and they’re ready to go from where they are to where they could be. Lord, I ask that you would give them the courage to believe. Help them with their unbelief and move them across that line of faith. Pray this prayer if you are ready, “Thank you for sending your son to die in my place. Today I ask you to forgive me for living my life without you Jesus. Take my life. I surrender everything to you. Be the Lord of my life. I want to live for you with all of my heart. I give you my life.”
If you prayed this prayer, please let Motor City Church know by completing an online Connect Card. We will send you some online resources that will help you as you begin this journey of resurrection living.
